Coupler carrier and striking casting



Feb. 19, 1935. D. s. BARRows COUPLER CARRIER AND STRIKING CASTING Filed Nov! 12,1928 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gvwmtoc Donald 5. Barrows Feb. 19, 1935. D. s. BARROWS I COUPLER CARRIER AND STRIKING CASTING Fi led Nov. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet? FIG. 7

FIG. 5

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 COUPLER CARRIER AND STRIKING CASTING 1 Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assignor'to The Symington- Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application November 12, 192 8, Serial No. 318,763

16 Claims. (U1113 50) This invention relates to draft riggin'g and more particularly to a coupler carrieror sill tie casting and associated striking casting, especially adapted for use with acoupler having anenlarged butt such as a swivel butt coupler.

The principal object of "my invention, generally considered, is to provide an associated striking casting andfsilltie'member or coupler carrier adapted for connection through the associated-sills of the car sothat theyfunction as a combined striking casting and sill tie member, said sill tie member-beingadapted to support an associated carrier block and having a tie portion so formed that the carrier block may be inserted and removed even while-the associated'coupler is disposed thereabove.

Another object ofmy invention is to provide a coupler carrier or sill tie casting formed with horizontal and vertical webs adapted for connection respectively to the. lower flanges and webs of the associated draft sills, thetie portion of said casting being off-set or bowed downwardly at its intermediate or central portion to facili. tate insertion and removal of the butter" an associated coupler.

Afurther object of my invention is to provide a coupler carrier or sill tie casting adapted for connection to the lower portions of associated draft sills for supporting a carrier block therebetween, the tie portion of said casting comprising vertical transverse webs or flanges connected by a horizontal web which is discontinued along a portion of the tie member to provide an aperture for insertion and removal. of the carrier block from below, even while the associated coupler is disposed above the sill tie casting, means being provided for normally locking'said carrier block in place when the coupler is in position by closing the aperture in the bottom of:

the casting.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention,

relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating myinvention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims. v V Figure 1' is a vertical longitudinal sectional View. of jone embodiment of my "sill tie "casting usual cover plate (not shown).

tie and striking castings of Figure 1, one portion thereof being shown in transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking'in the direction of thearrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures and 5 are views corresponding re.- spectively to Figures 1 and 2 butshowing a modification, said views being respectively'on the line 44 of Fig. 5, and partly on' the line .5.5 of Fig. i

4, looking in the directions of: the arrows.

Figure .6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 5, looking 'in the direction of the arrows. 1 l

Figure '7 is a fragmentary front elevational view corresponding. toFigure 5 but showing a modified locking device or carrier block retainer:

Figure-8 is a transverse sectional view onithe. line 88 of Figure'l, lookinginthedirectioniof: the arrows. i

Referring to the drawings in detail, like "parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment'of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive,

there are shown a pair of draft orcenter sillsl,

generally U shaped in section, with vertioalwebs 2 and upper and lower outstanding flanges, 3: and 4 respectively. Associated with the ends of: said sills l is a striking'casting or coupler stop, member 5 particularly designed to avoid the necessity of coping the sills. For that purpose, said casting comprises a pair of vertical'webs 6 extending between the'sills '1 andengaging the inner surfaces of webs 2-thereof, being connected to said webs preferably by'rivet's '7. Connecting the upper edges of the webs 6 is a top plate or roof portion srwhich isextended 'over, the upper; flanges 3 of the sills and adapted for-connection thereto. The rearward portion of the top web 8 'is preferably formed narrow enough to fit betweenthe webs 2 of the sills and depressed in elevation as indicated at 9 so that the upper whereby it is adapted for connection with the. Said casting 5 also has a front wall or web 10 againstwhich the horn of the associated coupler 11 is adapted to engage and limit rearwardmovementthereof; said web 10' being preferably extended laterally beyond the webs 2 of the sills as indicated at 12 and between said webs being preferably thick-- ened to provide ample buffing capacity. In order to additionally strengthen the web 10, the same is preferably reinforced by a plurality of: longi surface thereof isiiush with-the top of sills 1,

tudinally extending webs 13 and a horizontal web 14, said webs 13 rearwardly of the web 14 tapering until they finally merge into the upper web 9. In a similar way the connecting webs 6 rearwardly of the last rivet 7 taper until they finally merge into the web 9.

Connectingthe lower portions of the sills 1 at each end thereof is a sill tie casting 15,.which casting is "preferably formed with longitudinally extending webs or flanges 16 corresponding with the flanges 6 of the striking casting and adapted for connection to the webs 2 of the sills'by a plurality of rivets 17. Extending outwardly from the webs 16, so as to underlie the. flanges 4 of the sills, are webs 18 adapted for connection tov said flanges in any desired manner'as by means of rivets 19. As with the striking casting 5, the sill tie casting 15 preferably has a front web 20 which is extended laterally outwardly beyond the webs 16 and tapered between the webs 18 and theupper edges of the webs 16, as indicated at 21, for rigidifying the connection therebetween.

In addition to the front web 20, the tie portion 22 of the casting 15 comprises a rearward web 23 parallel with the web 20 and a lower horizontal web 24 connecting the lower edges of the webs 20 and 23. Said horizontal web at its centralportion is preferably rigidified by an upstanding central flange 25.

' In addition'to the connecting web 24 and flange 25, the'tie portion 22' is also provided with horizontal carrier block supporting webs 26 preferably rigidified beneath the webs 16 by depending. flanges 27 and apertured beneath the rivets 19 as indicated at 28 to facilitate driving said rivets. Said webs 26 are continued inwardly a short distance to underlie the ends of the carrier block 29 as indicated at 30, said carrier block, however, n'ot'being directly supported on said extensions 30 in the present embodiment, but resting on a supporting plate 31, which also serves as a'retainer or locking means for the carrier block 29 by closing the'openings 32 between the webs 20, 23 and 24, thereby preventing removal of the carrier block 29 as long as the associated coupler 11 is in place. Said retainer or supporting plate 31 may be held in place in any desired manner as by means of a cotter or the like 33' extending through registering apertures 34 and 35 in the web 26 and plate 31 'respectively.

- In order to facilitate insertion and removal of the block through one of the apertures 32 in the bottom of the sill tie casting 15, said carrier block preferably has the lower web 36 omitted and the side webs 37 bowed upwardly as 'indi; cated at 38 adjacent the center thereof, which construction also lightens the weight of the block. In addition to the webs mentioned, said block also preferably has an upper web 89, the central portion 40 of which is preferably thickened' and raised slightly above the end portions andnormally carriesa U shaped wear plate 41. In order tofacilitate the insertion and removal of the butt of the coupler 11, which in the pres ent embodiment is illustrated as ofthe swivel butt type,-th e webs or flanges 20 and 23- are preferablyde'pressed or cut-away beneath the cutaway portions 38 of the carrier block as indicated at 42., Inasmuch as the width of the sup' porting plate 31 preferably corresponds with the width or the tie portion 22, the side flanges or webs20 and 23 are preferably outwardly bowed. as indicated at l3 to surround or embrace the ends of said plate, and above said plate they are retained at approximately the same distance apart or slightly less as indicated'at 44, so that they closely embrace the ends of the block 29 with merely normal clearance provided. It will be seen that the upper portions of the webs 44 above the bulges 43 serve to properly position the wear plate 41, by closely approaching the ends thereof.

From the foregoing description of my inven tion it will be clear that the carrier block 29 may be assembled with the sill tie casting '15 as follows. first inserted beneath the striking casting 5 and above the depressed or cut-away portion 42 of the sill tie casting 15 and the minimum section of the stem moved to an upper corner of the v opening therebetween, after which the carrier The enlarged butt of the coupler 11 is block 29 is inserted through one of the apertures 32 and moved upwardly and diagonally until the lower end rests on one of the ledges or extensions 30 after which it may be moved to horizontal position resting on said ledges 30.

While the coupler is still in elevated position,

the wear plate 41 is applied and the block and wear plate together are raised just enough to receive the supporting plate 31 beneath-Saki I block, said platebeing thereafter locked in position by the cotter or the like 33 and the coupler 11 thereuponallowed to rest uponthe wear plate and blocktherebeneath. Said block may beree,

moved while the coupler is, in place in theopposite manner as will be understood.

Tne Webs 6 and 16 are constructed so as not toapproach each other near enough" to interfere with the slots 45' in the sills for receiving associated draft keys indicated at 46.. As is usual, cheek plates 47 are applied to said sills and cone-,-

spondingly slotted. In the present embodiment, the cheek plates are applied to theopposite sides of the webs'2, that is, to'the outer, surfaces of said webs, and the rearmost rivets '7 and 17 preferably serve as common rivets for connecting the webs 6 and 16, thesillwebs 2 .and the cheek plates 47. j

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6, a construction isvthere disclosed involving. a striking'casting 5* which may be identical with the casting 5' of the first embodiment and be connectedto the sills .1 in a similar mannen The construction of the present embodiment is also particularly adapted for use with a couplerll having an enlarged vbuttspecifically illustratedia's of the swivel butt type. 1 1" Connected beneath theisills 1 as in the previous embodiment, is a sill tie casting 15? provided with webs 16 and 18 corresponding with the webs 16 and 18 of the previous embodiment,

previous embodiment, the central-portions of the V webs 20 and 23 are depressed or cut-away as indicated at 42 'to facilitate insertion and removal of the swivel butt of the coupler 11s..

In theipresent embodiment, the carrier block 29 has an upper web 39 upwardly 'oif-set as indicated at 40 and receivinga' wear plate 41; Said block also has side webs or. flanges .37 ,jup-

wardly bowed or. cut-away at intermediate per-- end'only so that the pocket 51, although provided with an aperture .53 for insertinga tool to. facilitate removal ofthe retainer, is not adapted to permit removal thereof from that side. The pocket 52 has an outer opening 54 normally closed by a cotter orlike locking means 55'to prevent an undesired removal of the retainer 50. The flange or web is omitted at the end of the sill tie portion 22 adjacent the retainer 50, so that when said retaineris removed, an aperture 56 is provided suflicient in size for allowing removal or insertion of the carrier block 29 in. a manner similarto that described in connection with the carrier block29 of the first embodiment. As in the previous embodiment, the sides of the sill tie portion 22 are extended upwardly a sufficient distance 'so that their upper ends'are preferably normally flush with the ends of the carrier block 29 where they closely approach the ends of the wear plate as shown at 44, and retain the same in proper position. Except as specifically described in connection with the present embodiment, thev same may correspond 'with the first embodiment.

Referring now to theembodiment of -my invention illustrated in Figures '7 and 8, a modified retainer for one end of a corresponding carrier block 29 is illustrated; Said retainer is 20 of the sill tie casting 15 so that said retainer 50 is practically self-locking as in the embodiment of Figures 4, 5 and 6.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be apparent that I have devised a coupler carrier and associated striking casting which are adapted to leave an aperture therebetween sufiicient in size for receiving an enlarged butt or the swivel butt of an associated coupler,-when the associated car-' rier block is not in place. When, however, the carrier block is positioned beneath the stem of the coupler, which is readily accomplished while the coupler is in place'by insertion through an aperture provided in the lower portion of the sill tie casting, said coupler is-supported in proper position with only normal clearance between it and the associated striking casting thereabove. It will be seen that in each of the first two embodiments illustrated a rectangular or fiat retainer is insertable beneath the carrier block and rests on ledge means for supporting said block while closing an opening in the bottom of the tie casting to prevent removal of the block as long as the associated coupler is in place.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with the draft sills of a car, a striking casting, a sill tie casting, a coupler with a stem positioned therebetween, and formed with an enlarged butt, said castings being formed with side portions connected to the webs of the sills,

said sill tie casting being formed with a tie portion spaced sufficiently from the striking casting to. permit the free insertion and removal of said enlarged. butt, a removable carrier block supported on the sill tie casting, and retainer means supporting said block, so that it will support the stem with the desired amount of clearance between it and the striking casting, and when removed permitting removal or insertion of said block from below the tie casting.

21A silltie casting formed with side portions adapted for connection inside of the webs of draft sills' of a car below a striking casting thereon for supplementing said striking casting so that said sertion and removal of the-enlarged butt of a coupler, a removable carrier block supported on thesill tie portion, said sill tie being formed with an aperture permitting the insertion and removal of the block from below while the associated coupler is in place. l

4. A. sill tie casting formed with upstanding, sides adapted for connection with the webs'of' associated draft sills and horizontal webs extending therefrom and adapted for connection I with the lower flanges of said sills, said casting having a tie portion normally spaced sufliciently from an associated striking casting to permit the free insertion and removal ofthe enlarged butt of a coupler, and a removable carrier blocksupported on said sill tieportion and with its top surface normally disposed a substantial distance above the top of the tie portion so as to partially close the enlarged opening thereabove and support the couplerstem in proper position.

5. A sill tie casting formed with webs adapted for connection with associated draft sills, and a tie portion between said webs, the central part of said tie portion being depressed to facilitate the insertion and removal of anassociated coupler with an enlarged butt, said tie portion being formed with ledge means serving to support an" associated carrier block, a carrier block supported thereon and retainer means serving to prevent "undesired removal of said block, the

lower outline of said block being bowed upwardly 1 between the ends to facilitate insertion and removal thereof from below.

6. A still tie casting formed with webs adapted for connection with associated draft sills, a tie portion connecting said webs and comprising vertical transverse webs and a horizontal web connecting the lower portions thereof, a carrieiblock supported on said casting and retainer means for preventing undesired removal thereof, the horizontal web of said tie portion being omittedfora'portion of the length thereof to permit insertion and removal of the carrier block with the associated coupled'thereabove.

7. A still tie casting formed with webs adapted for connection with associated draft sills and a tie portion between said webs, said tie portion porting said block, said retainer closing an opening. in the bottom of the tie casting to prevent removal of said carrier block while the associated coupler is in place.

8. A carrier block adapted for support beneath V the stern of an associated coupler on a sill tie casting and having an upper supporting web depending side webs, and downwardly and outwardly divergingend webs, said side webs adjacent the centerof the block having their lower edges bowed upwardly to decrease the weight of said block and the depth at the center thereof and facilitate insertion-and removal.

9. A carrier block adapted for support beneath the stem of an associated coupler on a sill tie casting and having an upper supporting web, depending side webs, downwardly and outwardly diverging webs connecting the ends of said side webs and depending from the ends of said upper web,and flanges extending outwardly from the lower portionsv of said end webs and adapted to est on abutment portions of the sill tie casting. I 1G. A sill tie casting formed with upstanding sides adapted for connection with the webs of associated draft sillsand formed with a tie por-, tion adapted to be positioned to permit the free insertion and removal of the enlarged butt of a coupler thereabove, and a removable carrier block directly supported at one end on a portion of the sill tie casting and at its other end on a retainer,

said retainer, when removed, leaving an aperture through the sill tie casting adapted to permit insertion and removal of the carrier block from below. I

11. The combination with a car coupler having an enlarged butt, ofa coupler carrier secured to the car body andextending under the coupler, the portion of said carrier which underlies the coupler being spaced vertically downward from the overlying portion oi the car body to permit passage of the enlarged coupler butt while said carrier is in assembled position and comprising longitudinally spaced walls and a detachable bottom member and means normally supported by said bottom member for maintaining the coupler in vertically spaced relation to the portion or said carrier underlying said coupler, said bottom member being adapted to be lowered between said walls to permit the passage of said enlarged coupler butt.

,12. The combination with a laterally swinging car coupler, of a coupler carrier. secured to the car body and extending under the coupler, said underlying portion of the carrier being formed with longitudinally spaced walls, a downwardly removable coupler support disposed between said spaced walls and normally extending above the latter, and means connected to said walls and extending under said coupler support for maintaining the latter in assembled position.

13. The combination with a car coupler having an enlarged'butt, of a coupler carrier secured to the car body and extending under the coupler, the portion of said carrier which. underlies the coupler being spaced vertically downward from the overlying portion of the car body to permit passage of the enlarged coupler butt while said carrier is in assembled position and being formed with transversely extending walls which are spaced from each other longitudinally of the car, and means positioned between said walls for normally maintaining the coupler in vertically spaced relation to said .walls, 'said means being adapted to be lowered between said walls to permit the passage of said enlarged coupler butt,- 14. In combination with the draft sillsjof' a.

railway vehicle, a coupler having a stem disposed between said sills and provided with an enlarged butt, a striking casting connecting said sills and passage of said enlarged butt beneath said strik ing casting. H

15. In combination with the slotted draft sills of a railway vehicle, a coupler having a stem disposed between said sills and provided withan enlarged slotted butt, a slotted yoke disposed between said sills, a key received in the slotted,

portion of said sills, butt and yoke'for connecting said coupler and yoke, the slotted: portions of sills being framed by cheek plates connected to the outer surfaces of said sills, a striking-cast- 7 ing connecting said sills, overlying said stem, and

with portions on the inner sides of said sil1s;overlapping portions of said cheek plates-ands, coupler carrier connecting said sills, underlying said stem, and-with portions onthe inner sides of said sills overlapping portions of said check plates, common means connecting said overlapping striking casting and cheek plate portions to the sills therebetween, other common means connecting said overlappingcoupler carrier and cheek plate portions to the sills therebetween, that portion of said carrier directly beneath said stem being .45 spaced vertically downward from said striking i casting a distance sufficient to permit passage of the enlarged butt, and a block supported by said carrier for maintaining the coupler at a desired level above the'underlying portion of the-carrier.

16. In combinationwith the draft sills of a car, a striking casting, a, silltie casting formed with upstanding side portions provided with rear-- I wardly extending side webs disposed beneath portions of the striking casting and connected to the sills, said webs being positioned so as not to interfere with slots in the sills for receiving a draft key, and cheek plates'connected to the other sides of said sills, correspondingly slotted and formed with portions extending forwardly of, overlapping the ends of said side webs and corresponding portions of the striking. casting,

connected to said sills and side webs by common means, and connected to said sills and striking casting by other common means.

DONALD s. BARROWYS. 

